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Address

Crathes Castle
Banchory
Aberdeenshire
AB31 5QJ

Regional Information

Royal Deeside weaves along the valley of the River Dee, overlapping the Cairngorms National Park and Aberdeenshire. It is an area rich in history and lush with rare wildlife, from alpine flora to Scottish wildcats and unusual birdlife. Its most famous admirer, Queen Victoria, purchased the Balmoral Estate in 1848, and the region's royal connections continue to this day. The area is beloved of the current Royal Family,and the Queen along with Princes William and Harry are regular visitors to Balmoral and to Ballater's Crathie Kirk.

Stretching from the floor of the Dee high into the Cairngorm Mountains, Royal Deeside encompasses a range of terrains and habitants, and is renowned for its splendid regal scenery. Through the seasons the colours change from gleaming white winter snow to the opulence of summer and autumn - deep green trees and purple heather. There is plenty for outdoor enthusiasts to do, with winter sports available at Glenshee and Aviemore, while Braemar Castle and Balmoral Estate will fascinate lovers of history.

Laced with gothic charm this Victorian gate lodge guards the entrance to Crathes Castle. Crathes is a Renaissance dream of winding turrets and pink-harled walls, set among acres of manicured gardens.
The lodge's arched latticed windows look out onto the castle driveway. An enclosed private garden with a picnic table is perfect for outdoor dining when the sun shines.

Accommodation details

Sleeps 4 - 1 double, 1 twin

Sitting room with dining area

Kitchen

Shower room with WC

Oil fired central heating

Immersion water heating

Parking available outside the cottage

EPC Rating: F34

About Crathes CastleCrathes estate dates back to 1323 when King Robert the Bruce granted the lands of Leys to the ancient Burnett family. The jewelled ivory Horn of Leys, symbolic of the gift, now hangs in the castle's Great Hall. The castle you see today was completed in the late 16th century and retains ornate ceilings, family portraits and even a 'trick-step' designed to confuse attackers.

Six different trails lead round the 240 hectare (595 acre) estate. Crathes's grounds are known as a hotspot for spying bats, as well as buzzards, kingfishers and herons.

About the areaCrathes is a settlement of around 25 houses, spreading out into farms and countryside, close to Banchory in Royal Deeside.

Things to do

Steam-train enthusiasts will love the Royal Deeside Railway. Still undergoing a restoration project, the railway line currently runs for a mile along the River Dee.

Pack up a hamper and head to the Linn of Dee, a 300 metre rock gorge, part of Mar Lodge estate and one of Queen Victoria's beloved picnicking spots.

In the summer months, trace Scottish architectural history through the ages with a visit to

Drum Castle, the oldest intact building in the National Trust for Scotland's care. A medieval tower, a Jacobean mansion and Victorian extensions make this fortified ancestral home truly unique.

Getting thereCrathes Castle is off the A93, 15 miles west of Aberdeen and 3 miles east of Banchory. Aberdeen is the nearest railway station, and Aberdeen airport (Dyce) is 12 miles away. < Less